Rolling door

ABSTRACT

A rolling door with at least one closing element and an elastically deformable stabilization element is described herein. The closing element, a strip-like and/or web-like hanging element, is positioned in a region around the lower edge of the rolling door when the rolling door is in the closed position. The elastically deformable stabilization element is arranged on the lower edge of the closing element and exhibits a restoring force which acts against a deformation of the stabilization element in a direction opposite to the closing direction when the rolling door is in a closed position. The restoring force of the stabilization element is less than a second restoring force which acts against a deformation of the stabilization element in a transversal or radial direction, more particularly, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the closing element in the closing direction.

The invention relates to a roll-up door comprising a closing elementwhich is provided in the form of a strip-like hanging element at leastin the region of a lower edge thereof when in the closed position, andan elastically deformable stabilizing element which is situated on thelower edge of the closing element when in the closed position.

Roll-up doors of this type are used in particular for closing hallentries. During the transition from the closed position to the openposition, the closing element may be wound on a winding shaft situatedabove the hall entry, thereby ensuring compact accommodation of theclosing element in the open position. For this purpose, the closingelement in the form of an armored slat may be provided with multipleslats connected to one another in an articulated manner with respect toarticulated axes running perpendicular to the direction of motion of theclosing element. In cases for which rapid opening of the entry is moreimportant than closing the entry in an intrusion-proof manner, theclosing element may also be provided in the form of a strip-like hangingelement, for example composed of PVC. To facilitate the opening motion,generally a counterweight device is used by which the closing element ispushed upward from the closed position in the direction of the openposition. Such a counterweight device may absorb energy released duringthe closing motion of the closing element, which later is available forfacilitating the opening motion. Such counterweight devices may beimplemented in the form of spring systems, in particular tension springand or torsion spring systems, which are stretched during the closingmotion and relaxed again during the opening motion. Alternatively oradditionally, the counterweight devices may also have weights which areraised during the closing motion and lowered again during the openingmotion.

In the dimensioning of the counterweight device, particularly forroll-up doors having a closing element in the form of a strip-likehanging element, care must be taken that at the beginning of the closingmotion a considerable breakaway torque of the drive must initially beovercome, whereas afterwards only a comparatively small torque isnecessary for continuing the opening motion. This breakaway torque istypically 15 Nm or greater, whereas for continuing the motion a torqueof only 2 to 3 Nm is usually required. Consequently, the counterweightdevice must be dimensioned so that it provides a sufficiently highbreakaway torque. During the opening motion, the closing element isaccelerated according to the breakaway torque, and upon reaching theopen position must be appropriately decelerated to avoid damage to thedrive, the closing element, and or the winding shaft.

Alternatively, the referenced elements may also be dimensioned in such away that damage also does not occur when the opening motion abruptlystops. However, both of the above-described possibilities require greatcomplexity of design to avoid damaging the roll-up door. To solve thisproblem, roll-up doors are proposed in DE 202 04 637 in which thecounterweight device has at least one compensating element by which theclosing element in the closed position is pushed into the open position,and which again decelerates the opening motion when the open position isreached. The disclosure of the referenced document with respect to thedesign of the counterweight devices is hereby explicitly incorporated byreference into the present description.

When roll-up doors having a closing element in the form of a strip-likehanging element are used, a stabilizing element is usually provided onthe lower edge of the strip-like hanging element. On the one hand, thisstabilizing element stabilizes the shape of the lower edge of thestrip-like hanging element to ensure a defined closure by the closingelement. On the other hand, the stabilizing element is used tofacilitate the closing motion. For conventional roll-up doors, thestabilizing element is implemented in the form of a rod fastened to thelower edge of the strip-like hanging element.

As described above, roll-up doors having a closing element in the formof a strip-like hanging element are used in particular when a rapidopening and closing motion is important. In this case, fastening thestabilizing element to the lower edge of the strip-like hanging elementduring the closing motion entails considerable risk of injury if duringthe closing motion the stabilizing element strikes a person standing inthe entry. Furthermore, as a result of the stabilizing elements,conventional roll-up doors may also damage objects during the closingmotion. Lastly, when conventional stabilizing elements are used thehanging element itself and/or the guide elements for guiding the motionof the hanging element may be damaged if a vehicle strikes the hangingelement in the closed position.

In light of these problems with conventional roll-up doors, it haspreviously been proposed to replace the stabilizing element, usuallyimplemented in the form of a rigid rod, with a loop, formed by foldingthe lower edge of the hanging element upon itself, filled with sand.Filling the lower edge of the hanging element with sand facilitatestriggering of the closing motion, and prevents injury and damage duringthe closing motion due to the flexibility of the sand filling.Furthermore, this sand filling may also prevent damage to the hangingelement and or the guide elements when an object strikes the hangingelement in the closed position. However, in this refinement ofconventional roll-up doors, the original intended function for thestabilizing element, namely, ensuring a specified shape of the loweredge of the strip-like hanging element, is no longer achieved.

In view of these problems, in the prior art a refinement of knownroll-up doors is described in DE 202 04 637, which is essentiallycharacterized in that the stabilizing element is elastically deformable.Such a design of the stabilizing element on the one hand providesflexibility of the stabilizing element when objects or persons arestruck, and on the other hand returns the stabilizing element, andtherefore the lower edge of the closing element as well, to apredetermined shape. Altogether, the risk of damage or injury to objectsor persons present in the entry is thereby eliminated, and a specifiedclosure in the closed position is ensured.

For the known roll-up doors, it is considered especially practical forthe stabilizing element to have a spring element, in particular a springelement which winds spirally around a helical axis running parallel tothe lower edge of the strip-like hanging element. Obtaining a specifiedshape of the lower edge may thus be reliably ensured if the springelement is pretensioned to increase the restoring force when deformationoccurs. The risk of damage or injury may be further reduced if thestabilizing element, implemented in the form of a spring element, forexample, is enclosed at least partially by a layer of flexible material.The stabilizing element for the roll-up door known from the citeddocument may be accommodated in a loop formed on a lower edge of thestrip-like hanging element, it being particularly practical from astructural design standpoint for the lower edge of the strip-likehanging element to fold back upon itself to form the loop.

To increase the operational reliability of the known devices, at leastone guide member which cooperates with the guide element may be providedon at least one lateral edge of the closing element. If the guide memberis disengaged from the guide element by collision of an object orvehicle with the closing element when in the closed position, reliableguiding of the motion of the closing element may be ensured by providingan intake system on the upper edge of the guide element by which theguide member may be automatically inserted into the guide element duringa closing motion of the closing element.

The use of elastically deformable stabilizing elements on the lower edgeof the closing elements of known roll-up doors can largely eliminatedamage or injury to objects or persons present in the entry. However, ithas been shown that with these stabilizing elements, which areadvantageous with respect to reduction of injury or damage, theachievable stabilization of the closing element in the closed positionis inadequate under wind load and the like. In view of these problems inthe prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a roll-up doorby which, on the one hand, damage or injury to objects or personspresent in the entry can be largely eliminated, and on the other hand,sufficient stability of the closing element in the closed position isstill achievable.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a refinement ofknown roll-up doors which is essentially characterized in that therestoring force counteracting a deformation of the stabilizing elementin a direction opposite to the closing direction is less than therestoring force counteracting a deformation of the closing element in adirection transverse, in particular approximately perpendicular, to theclosing element when in the closed position.

The low restoring force when deformation occurs in a direction oppositeto the closed position satisfactorily reduces the risk of damage orinjury, whereas the higher restoring force in a direction transversethereto ensures a good stabilizing function in this direction.

For obtaining different restoring forces, the stabilizing element mayhave at least one spring element having an asymmetrical, in particularoval, elliptical, or rectangular, cross section in an intersection planerunning perpendicular to the lower edge of the closing element, thespring element in a direction perpendicular to the closing element inthe closed position having a greater thickness than in a directionrunning in the closing direction. Additionally or alternatively, thestabilizing element may have at least two adjacent spring elements in adirection perpendicular to the closing element in the closed position inorder to achieve a particularly high restoring force in-this direction.

An elastically deformable stabilizing element may be implemented with aparticularly simple design in the form of a spring bar.

Within the scope of the invention, however, it has turned out to beparticularly practical for the stabilizing element to be composed atleast partially of an elastomeric material and/or plastic. Through theskillful choice of the cross-sectional shape of the stabilizing elementformed from an elastomeric material, the different restoring forces in adirection opposite to the closing direction and in a directiontransverse thereof may be adjusted in a particularly simple manner.

The use of a stabilizing element composed of an elastomeric materialand/or a flexible plastic results in a particularly low risk of injuryto persons. Furthermore, the risk of damage to objects is reduced. Thisis particularly true in comparison to conventional metal subdivisions.

The use of stabilizing elements composed of an elastomeric materialand/or plastic may also result in optimal conditions when setting theroll-up door in motion, since no damages or scraping marks can beproduced, as is observed when stabilizing elements made of aluminum, forexample, are used. According to a further embodiment of the invention,for obtaining different restoring forces the stabilizing element mayalso have at least one leaf spring having primary surfaces orientedperpendicularly to the closing direction. For design and safety reasonsit is particularly preferred for these leaf springs to be embedded inthe elastomeric material. By providing two parallel leaf springsseparated at a distance from one another, preferably with both embeddedin an elastomeric material, it is possible to achieve a particularlyhigh restoring force in a direction transverse to the closing directionwhile simultaneously ensuring a sufficiently low restoring force in adirection opposite to the closing direction.

Additionally or alternatively, reinforcing wires as used in themanufacture of synchronous belts, reinforcing belts, or the like may beincorporated into the stabilizing element.

The stabilizing element used for the roll-up door according to theinvention may be fastened to the closing element in a particularlysimple manner when the stabilizing element has a groove, situated at itsupper edge and extending in the longitudinal direction of thestabilizing element, which at least partially accommodates a lower edgeof the hanging element. The lower edge of the hanging element may beglued to and/or screwed into the groove to achieve a particularly secureattachment of the stabilizing element to the lower edge of the hangingelement.

For roll-up doors according to the invention, the risk of injury and/ordamage to objects or persons present in the entry, and the risk ofdamage to the roll-up door itself, is reduced by providing anelastically deformable stabilizing element. The risk of damage and/orinjury may be further reduced by providing a safety device for theclosing element which can be operated for switching off and/ortriggering a change in direction of a drive device coupled to theclosing element, thereby reliably preventing overload of the drivedevice and sustained impingement of force on objects or persons presentin the entry.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the safetydevice has a transmitting element that can be operated for sendingwirelessly transmittable signals and a receiving element that can beoperated for receiving the wirelessly transmitted signals, thetransmitting element and/or receiving element preferably being situatedin a channel passing through the stabilizing element. In one preferredembodiment of the invention, the channel used for accommodating thesafety device is provided in the region of the lower edge of thestabilizing element. Additionally or alternatively, however, the channelfor the safety device may be situated centrally or on the upper edge ofthe stabilizing element. Positioning in the region of the upper edge ofthe stabilizing element is preferred when there is a risk that thestabilizing element is exposed to floor moisture in the closed positionof the roll-up door.

Within the scope of the invention, it has proven to be practical for thestabilizing element to have a multi-part design, a channel foraccommodating a safety device preferably passing through at least one ofthe parts of the stabilizing element. This part of the stabilizingelement may be designed to clip in below the profile, making it possibleto economically replace the corresponding part of the stabilizingelement if the channel is damaged.

Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable to provide areceptacle on the stabilizing element, which allows commerciallyavailable safety devices or contact bars to be fixed in place. For allembodiments of the invention in which a canal for accommodating a safetydevice is provided in the stabilizing element, use may be made of adeformation of the stabilizing element in the region of the channel forinterrupting the transmission path of wirelessly transmitted signalsfrom the transmitting element of the safety device to the receivingelement of the safety device, so that this interruption may be employedto trigger the switching off or reversal of direction of the drivedevice. In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, thesafety device has a photoelectric barrier having a transmitting elementinserted into the channel of the stabilizing element, and a receivingelement that is likewise inserted into the channel of the stabilizingelement. In this particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, onthe one hand the stabilizing element may cause the signal transmissionpath to be interrupted, and on the other hand the stabilizing elementaccommodating the receiving element and the transmitting element alsoreliably protects the safety device from damage.

For a multi-part design of the stabilizing element, the stabilizingelement may also have receptacles for fixing in place sealing lips orsealing strips, which are optionally clipped into these receptacles in aparticularly simple manner. This embodiment is of interest when thefloor is very uneven and must be compensated for. In addition to or asan alternative to clippable sealing lips or sealing strips, it is alsopossible to provide fastening bars on one of the parts of thestabilizing element, onto which the corresponding sealing lips orsealing strips may be pushed.

As an additional advantage of a multi-part design of the stabilizingelement, it is noted that such a design allows a particularly low heightfor the stabilizing element. In this case, only a slight droprequirement for the door is necessary. Furthermore, the multi-partdesign of the stabilizing element also permits roll-up doors to beeconomically and easily manufactured.

For conventional roll-up doors, the motion of the strip-like hangingelement is usually guided with the assistance of guide elements in theform of guide rails provided on the lateral edge of the closing element.The lower edge of the strip-like hanging element unrolled from thewinding during the closing motion engages with these guide rails. Theclosing motion is then guided with the assistance of the lateral edgesof the hanging element which are accommodated in the guide rails. Toreliably introduce the lower edge of the hanging element into the guiderail, an intake system is usually provided on the lower edge of theguide element by which the lateral edge of the closing element may beautomatically introduced into the guide element during a closing motion.For conventional roll-up doors, this intake system is implemented byfunnel-shaped extensions on the upper edge of the guide rails. However,it has been shown that, in particular for rapidly moving roll-up doorshaving stabilizing elements situated on the lower edge of the hangingelement, in some cases despite use of the known intake systemsmalfunctions occur in which the hanging element is not introduced in thedesired form into the guide rails.

According to a further aspect of the invention, this problem is solvedby a refinement of known roll-up doors which is essentiallycharacterized in that the intake system on the upper edge of the guideelements has at least two oppositely situated delimiting surfaces forthe closing element, and/or pretensioning devices which may be providedon a stabilizing element situated on the lower edge thereof, by whichthe closing element, i.e., the stabilizing element, is pushed indirections opposite to and transverse to the direction of motion of theclosing element.

Such intake systems achieve a centering of the lower edge of the closingelement. This centering is dynamically designed so that for undesirablyhigh deflections in one direction or the other, correspondingly highrestoring forces are produced by the pretensioning devices, which arethen acted on. By dynamic design of the intake system it is possible toensure that the lower edge of the closing elements is reliablyintroduced into the guide elements, even at high closing speeds. In oneparticularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least onepretensioning device has at least one bristle element which in theno-load state extends approximately perpendicularly to the closingelement when in the closed position, and which may be elasticallydeflected by the closing element or stabilizing element which runsagainst it, the deflection of the bristle element producing apretensioning force which is oriented transversely to the closingdirection or motion of direction of the closing element and which actson the closing element, i.e., stabilizing element.

Appropriate placement of the leaf springs optionally embedded in thestabilizing element causes the stabilizing element to tip byapproximately 90° when it travels from the open position, and then to bepushed from the guides without damage. Under wind pressure thestabilizing element remains stable in the lateral guide rails of theroll-up door.

The invention is explained with reference to the drawing, to whichexpress reference is made with respect to all particulars which areessential to the invention and which are not emphasized in greaterdetail. In the drawing,

FIG. 1 shows a first schematic sectional illustration of a roll-up dooraccording to the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a second schematic sectional illustration of a roll-up dooraccording to the invention.

The roll-up door illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a strip-like hangingelement 10, on the lower edge of which a stabilizing element 20 issituated. The stabilizing element 20 has a groove 22 at its upper edgein which the lower edge of the hanging element 10 is accommodated. Forsecurely fastening the stabilizing element 20 to the lower edge of thehanging element 10, the hanging element 10 may be glued to and/orscrewed into the groove 22. Overall, the stabilizing element 20 has agreater thickness in a direction perpendicular to the closing directionof the hanging element 10, indicated by the arrow P, than in the closingdirection itself. The overall stabilizing element 20 is essentiallycomposed of an elastomeric material. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawing, the restoring force counteracting adeformation of the stabilizing element 20 in a direction opposite to theclosing direction is less than the restoring force counteracting adeformation of the stabilizing element in a direction transverse, inparticular approximately perpendicular, to the closing element when inthe closed position. This characteristic of the stabilizing element 20is achieved by embedding in the stabilizing element 20, which is madeessentially of an elastomeric material, two leaf springs 24 whoseprimary surfaces run approximately perpendicular to the closingdirection P to ensure a particularly low restoring force for deformationin a direction opposite to the closing direction, and to produce aparticularly high restoring force when the stabilizing element isdeformed in a direction perpendicular to the closing direction. The leafsprings 24 are embedded in the stabilizing device 20 approximatelyparallel and at a distance to one another so that, while a highrestoring force is guaranteed in a direction perpendicular to theclosing direction, a comparatively low restoring force is ensured fordeformation in a direction opposite to the closing direction.

In the stabilizing element 20 illustrated in FIG. 1, a channel 26running in the longitudinal direction of the stabilizing element passesthrough the stabilizing element at its lower edge. This channel 26 isused for accommodating a safety device, implemented in the form of aphotoelectric barrier, for example, by which the switching off orreversal of direction of a drive device coupled to the closing elementis triggered for a deformation of the lateral surface of the stabilizingelement 20 which adjoins the channel 26.

Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable to situate thechannel for accommodating the safety device centrally or on the upperedge of the stabilizing element, as indicated in FIG. 1 by 26′ or 26″,respectively.

Lastly, the stabilizing element illustrated in FIG. 1 also has a sealinglip 28 which projects forward and downward and which achieves sealingcontact with the floor of the space to be closed by the closing elementwhen the closed position is reached.

This sealing lip may also be designed as a separate part of thestabilizing element which may be clipped into a corresponding receptacleand/or pushed onto a corresponding fastening bar.

FIG. 2 schematically shows an intake system 30 according to theinvention for the roll-up door described with reference to FIG. 1. Theintake system 30 automatically threads the lower edge of the closingelement during a closing motion into a guide rail 40 situated on alateral edge of the opening to be closed by the closing element. To thisend, the intake system 30 has two support elements 32 and 34 situated onopposite sides of the closing element. Starting with these supportelements 32 and 34, a plurality of pretensioning elements extends in thedirection of the hanging element, i.e., the stabilizing element 20. Whenthe stabilizing element 20 strikes the bristles 33 or 35, the bristlesare deflected, thereby producing a restoring force which acts on thestabilizing element 20 and is aligned transversely thereto.

The restoring force exerted on the stabilizing element 20 by thebristles 33 causes the stabilizing element 20 in FIG. 2 to be pushed tothe left, while the stabilizing element is pushed to the right in thedrawing by the restoring forces of the bristles 35. Overall, therestoring forces from the bristles 33 and 35 produce a centering of thestabilizing element 20. As a result of this centering, the stabilizingelement 20 is reliably threaded into the upper edge of the guide rail40.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described withreference to the drawing. Rather, it is also conceivable for thepretensioning device to be implemented in another manner than by bristleelements. Furthermore, the stabilizing element may also be furnishedwith fewer or more than two leaf springs. It is also conceivable toachieve the desired distribution of the restoring forces solely by theappropriate choice of the cross-sectional shape of the stabilizingelement.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A roll-up door, comprising: at least one closingelement having at least a closed position; and an elastically deformablestabilizing element coupled to at least one lower edge of a closingelement, said stabilizing element configured to exert a first restoringforce to counteract a deformation of said stabilizing element in adirection opposite to a closing direction when each of said at least oneclosing element is in said closed position and to exert a secondrestoring force to counteract a deformation of said stabilizing elementin a direction transverse to each of said at least one closing elementwhen each of said at least one closing element is in said closedposition, said first restoring force being less than said secondrestoring force.
 15. The roll-up door according to claim 14, wherein thestabilizing element is composed at least partially of an elastomericmaterial and/or plastic.
 16. The roll-up door according to claim 14,wherein the stabilizing element has at least one leaf spring havingprimary surfaces, wires, and/or belts, oriented perpendicularly to theclosing direction.
 17. The roll-up door according to claim 16, whereinthe at least one leaf spring is embedded in an elastomeric material. 18.The roll-up door according to claim 16, wherein the stabilizing elementhas two or more parallel leaf springs spatially separated from eachother.
 19. The roll-up door according to claim 14, wherein thestabilizing element comprises a groove situated at an upper edge of thestabilizing element and extending in a longitudinal direction of thestabilizing element, which at least partially accommodates a lower edgeof one of the at least one closing element.
 20. The roll-up dooraccording to claim 19, wherein said lower edge is glued to and/orscrewed into the groove.
 21. The roll-up door according to claim 19,wherein the stabilizing element comprises at least one channel passingthrough the stabilizing element.
 22. The roll-up door according to claim21, further comprising a safety device, accommodated in the channel,which can be operated for switching off and/or triggering a change indirection of a drive device coupled to the closing element.
 23. Theroll-up door according to claim 22, wherein said safety device includesa photoelectric barrier that is triggered upon deformation of saidstabilizing element.
 24. The roll-up door according to claim 14, whereinthe stabilizing element has a sealing lip which projects downward andforward at an oblique angle, the sealing lip configured to contact afloor when each of the at least one closing element is in the closedposition.
 25. The roll-up door according to claim 14, wherein thestabilizing element has a multi-part design, and comprises a channelpassing through one of the parts.
 26. The roll-up door according toclaim 14, wherein at least a lower edge of the at least one closingelement includes a web-like hanging element coupled to said stabilizingelement.
 27. A roll-up door system, comprising: a closing element; atleast one guide element situated on a lateral edge of the closingelement; and an intake system situated on an upper edge of the guideelement configured to introduce the lateral edge of the closing elementinto the guide element during a closing motion, the intake system havingat least two oppositely situated delimiting surfaces for the closingelement, and/or pretensioning devices selectively contacted with astabilizing element situated on the lower edge of the closing element,configured to push the closing element in at least one directionopposite to and transverse to a direction of motion of the closingelement.
 28. The roll-up door according to claim 27, wherein at leastone of the pretensioning devices has a bristle element configured to beelastically deflected by the closing element or stabilizing elementwhich strikes it.
 29. The roll-up door according to claim 27, whereinthe closing element further comprises a lower edge having a strip-likehanging element.
 30. The roll-up door according to claim 27, wherein theclosing element further comprises a lower edge having a web-like hangingelement.
 31. A roll-up door, comprising: at least one closing element,each configured to provide a barrier when the roll-up door is in aclosed position; an elastically deformable stabilizing element coupledto the closing element, the stabilizing element configured to exert aplurality of restoring forces upon deformation; and a drive mechanismcoupled to the at least one closing element and configured to lower thedoor in a closing direction, and upon receiving a reversal trigger toraise the door in an opening direction.
 32. The roll-up door accordingto claim 31, wherein the stabilizing element is configured to exert arestoring force in a direction opposite to a closing direction topartially counteract deformation of the stabilizing element when theroll-up door is in the closed position.
 33. The roll-up door accordingto claim 32, wherein the stabilizing element is further configured toexert a second stronger restoring force in a direction transverse to theclosing element to partially counteract deformation of the stabilizingelement when the roll-up door is in the closed position.
 34. The roll-updoor according to claim 31, further comprising a safety device coupledto the stabilizing element and configured to detect deformation of thestabilization element, and upon deformation, to activate the reversaltrigger.
 35. The roll-up door according to claim 31, further comprising:at least one guide element coupled to a lateral edge of the closingelement; and an intake system coupled to an upper edge of the guideelement configured to automatically introduce the lateral edge of theclosing element into the guide element during a closing motion, theintake system having at least two oppositely situated delimitingsurfaces for the closing element, and/or pretensioning devicesselectively contacted with a stabilizing element situated on the loweredge of the closing element, configured to push the closing element inat least one direction opposite to and transverse to a direction ofmotion of the closing element.
 36. The roll-up door according to claim31, wherein the stabilizing element includes a sealing lip configured toprovide sealing contact with a surface when the roll-up door is in theclosed position.
 37. The roll-up door according to claim 31, wherein thestabilizing element comprises a channel running in a longitudinaldirection along the stabilizing element and the roll-up door furthercomprises a safety device accommodated within the channel of thestabilizing element to detect deformation of the stabilization element,the safety device configured to alter the current state of the drivemechanism.